Ontario Bill 33 threatens the funding and independence of student unions, putting essential student services, advocacy, and representation at risk. We are a united coalition of student organizations, allies, and individuals fighting to protect student union fees and student union autonomy. Read the full release.
NEWS RELEASE
September 22, 2025
Students Launch Coalition Against Bill 33 To Protect Access To Student Services
TORONTO - Student organizations from across Ontario and Canada have united to speak out about their concerns on the provincial government’s Bill 33. Representing over three-quarters of a million students, the Canadian Alliance of Student Associations, College Student Alliance, Ontario Student Voices, and Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance have come together to form the “Coalition to Protect Student Services”, raising awareness about the impacts the Bill could have on students and their post-secondary experience.
Bill 33, also known as the Supporting Children and Students Act, 2025, was tabled earlier this year in May. Provisions under the Bill would provide the province with more authority over setting optional fees for students, as well as admissions criteria for post-secondary institutions. Students are worried about the implications this could have on essential campus services. Resources like food banks, peer support, campus media, and more, are at risk of being underfunded. This Bill jeopardizes their sustainability, leaving students without vital supports that make up their educational experience.
To launch the campaign, the coalition has penned an open letter to the Premier and relevant Ministers. The letter asks for a meeting with Minister Nolan Quinn, a referral of the Bill to the Standing Committee on Social Policy, and a review of Section 21.1 which describes the proposed amendments under the Ministry of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence, and Security.
“These supports are critical: student demand for food banks is increasing in the triple digits, one-third of students are not having their mental health needs met, and campus clubs provide invaluable leadership and employment opportunities,” the coalition said in their letter. “If the government hopes to have skilled graduates tackling today’s provincial challenges, their post-secondary experience must provide them with the means to succeed through adequate resources for their wellbeing.”
As students continue their first month back on campus, using the very services this Bill would defund, the coalition is emphasizing proactive consultation with students in order to ensure changes to the post-secondary system remain transparent and accountable. The campaign will consist of various elements and run throughout the next few weeks, leading up to the Legislature returning on October 20th.
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About us:
The Canadian Alliance of Student Associations (CASA) is a non-partisan, not-for-profit advocacy organization representing students at 27 student associations across the country. Through our partnership with the Quebec Student Union/Union étudiante du Québec, CASA represents 390,000 students across Canada. CASA advocates for accessible, affordable, innovative, and high quality post-secondary education in Canada. For 30 years, CASA has done so successfully through policy and research development, awareness campaigns, government relations efforts, and partnerships with other stakeholders in the education sector. Part of this work is ensuring that
conversations surrounding post-secondary education are undertaken with the most up-to-date information and with direct feedback from students and other leading advocacy stakeholders across the country.
Contact:
Mariam Trifess
Communications & Public Relations Officer, Canadian Alliance of Student Associations
